Page 65 of The Toymaker
“It’s fine, Master,” Kit said in a small voice.
Riju turned to him. “It is not fine!”
“Knock it off, Riju,” snapped Trig.
“No, you knock it off. Kit, drink your juice. All of it.”
Kit drank as Trig huffed and stalked toward a cabinet while coiling the whip. “I’ll take care of him. Go to your room or whatever. I’m done with your attitude today.”
“You’re not touching him,” Riju suddenly snarled with such fury, Kit flinched, and even Trig stopped.
“Excuse me?” He slowly turned. “Maybe I should paddle your ass and send you to your room. I don’t know what’s gotten into you-”
“We’re not in bed, so don’t fucking touch me either.”
Kit gulped the last bit for something to do because he felt awkward. Since when did they fight, especially about the rules? It wasn’t fair, but he had let the coin drop, and Trig had specifically commanded him to hold it there and not move. It was Trig’s decision, and he’d rather they stop bickering. Something else must have happened earlier because he’d caught their angry voices from upstairs.
“Up,” said Riju.
Kit stood. “Why are you mad, Master?”
“I’m not mad at you.” Riju’s voice was strained as he took the glass to set it on the floor. He scooped Kit up. “Put your legs around me.”
Kit did so and hooked his arms around Riju’s neck.
“I just said to go to your room,” snapped Trig.
“You’re not beating him and then cuddling him like you did nothing wrong.”
“I’ll give him aftercare,” said Trig. “We’re not fighting over that too now.”
Riju, supporting Kit’s ass, turned to Trig. “You’re right. We’re not fighting over it.”
With that, he headed for the stairs. Kit expected Trig to command Riju to put him down, but he turned away.
In Kit’s room, Riju put him down, and his voice was choked. “We’re going to relax by ourselves, okay?”
“Master, please. I deserved it.”
“I’ll hold you. We’ll talk later.”
Kit almost wanted to cry. Riju wasn’t supposed to be upset, and nothing was right. Once he was lying on top of his Master on his pallet, Riju stroked his hair. Kit forced himself to listen to Riju’s breathing as it evened out while he tried not to think of him and Trig yelling at each other.
Whatever was wrong, they’d forgive each other, and everything would be back to normal by dinner, right? It was past lunchtime, although he wasn’t hungry. With everything quiet, and Riju’s warmth under him, it wasn’t so bad. Breathing in his rose and magnolia smell, his eyes grew heavy.
Riju started to hum, and while he sounded a little off, it was enough to put Kit to sleep.
***
He jerked awake later at a creak.
“Riju, I’m going to the tavern for dinner. He’s to cook dinner for you and go to his room once the kitchen’s cleaned up.”
“Mhm.”
“You’ll feel better tomorrow, and we’ll talk. I need a break, and if we try to talk now, we’ll just end up arguing. You need to calm down tonight.”
Riju said nothing as the door closed. Kit blinked at the floor and tried to clear the muddle from his head. He must have been out like a rock.
